Explosive-shell.



F. M. HALE. EXPLOSIVE SHELL. ArPLmnIou Hman un. 1a. 190e.

Patented Jupe' 29, 1909.

m'zzezs 643,

FREDERICK MARTEN HALE, Ol" CATFORI), ENGLAND.

EXPLOSIVE-SHELL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .Tune 29, 1909.

Application filed April 18, 190B. Serial No. 427,846.

To all whom 'it 'may concern.'

Bo it known that I, VFREDERICK MAn'rnN HALE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at (atlord, ll'ngland, have in vented certain new and useful improvements in EX- plosive Shells, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to so construct a fuse for explosive shells, of simple mechanism, which shall avoid the possibility of coming into action in the gun on shock of discharge; impact with an armor plate, or other obstruction being necessary to ire it, so that an eilective delay is created after the impact of the shell before the ex plosion takes place, thus allowing the explosion of the shell to take place after piercing, and in or behind the armor or object struck. Should the detonator prematurely fire in the gun or during transit, or otherwise, the flash or flame is retained within the fuse, and does not communicate with the explosive bursting charge, thus rendering the fused shell safe to lire or handle under practically any condition.

My invention will be clearly understood from the following description aided by the accompanying drawings in Which:-

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a fuse constructed in accordance with thc present invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation in a plano at a right angle to the plane of Fig. l

'lhe body ot the fuse is shown at A and is in the form of a hollow plug having a bore (l extending from its outer end and having a bore of less diameter extending from the bore C to the inner end of the plug. In the larger bore is arranged a hammer F having an axial tubular extension T which is disposed in the smaller bore for axial sliding movement. The extension 'l` is held normally against movement by spring rosscd bolts V, the ends of which are normally held in recesses in the plug A. The outer end of the latter is closed by a plug l which also retains the hammer li" in position.

The end of the body A is closed by a frangible disk-like section Q which may be integral with or otherwise rigidly secured to the material of the body. `The section Q prevents the ilash of the llame from reaching the oxplosive material in case the detonator is prematurely iircd.

lhe detonator, indicated by the immoral l) is located at the end of the extension 'l` in alinemont with the bore ol' said extension and also in alinement with the bore of a hollow punch S which is secured in tho end of the extension 'l and engages tho frangble section Q at the point h. to sever said section prior to the liring of the detonator in order that the i'lash of the latter may reach the explosive material.

Cooperating with the detonato'r lis a needle pellet l*` which is disposed in a central bore of the hammer lN and has a transverse recess through Which the bolts V project. 'lhe pellet F is held normally against movement with relation to said hammer by any suitable means, as for example, a frangble shearing pin G.

In action, the bolts V aro disengaged. from the body A by centrifugal force, leaving thc hammer F free to move to the end ol the bore C, which movement takes place as a rcsult of the impact of the shell. rThis movement of the hammer is preliminary to the movement of the noodle pellet and produces the breaking of thc section Q. The needle pellet is then projected along the boro T5, tho pin G having broken, and iircs the dctonator. It is apparent that this firing takes place after the action ol' the hammer in severing the section Q.

lll/That I do claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z- 1. In a fuse for explosivo shells, in combination, a body having an axial bore, a dctonator at one cud ol' tho boro, a nccdlc pcllct and needle carried tlicreby at the other ond of the bore, means for holding the noodle pellet normally against forward movement., said means being operable to release the needle pellet whercb the latter has forward movement, upon t ie retardation of the movement of the shell, moans closing the end of thc bore for retaining thc lash of llamo from the detonator, should the latter have premature explosion, and means for moving said last named means from the cnd of the bore prior to the action ol' the dctonator when fired by the needle pellet.

2. In a fuse for explosive shells, in combination, a body having an axial bore, frangible means closing one end thereof, a detonator arranged in said boro, movable noodle means for iiring the dotonator, means normally holding the needle means against movement and opcralilc to release the latter upon the retardation ol the movement of the shell7 punch means for severing said [Tangible means, hammer moans associatml with the punch means and causing the latter to have operation prior to the firing of the detonator by said needle means, and means for holding said hammer means normally against active movement and operable by the transmitted influence of the force of movement of the shell to release said hammer means.

3. In a fuse for explosive shells, in combination, a body having an axial bore, frangible means closing one end thereof, hammer means movable in the bore, a punch carried by said hammer means to sever said frangible means, bolts normally held engaged with said body and operable by centrifugal action to release said hammer means, the latter also havin an axial bore, a detonator in said last name bore, needle means in said last named bore and movable to ire the detonator, and frangible means for holding said needle means normally against movement.

4. In a fuse for explosive shells, in combination, a body, having a frangible closed end, detonator means in the body, needle pellet means for firing the detonator means, means normally holding the needle pellet means against movement and permitting the movement of the needle pellet means as a result of impact, punch means for breaking the frangible closed end of the body and operable preliminarily to the action of the needle pellet means and means normally holding` the punch means against operation and permitting the operation thereof as a result ol" impact.

5. In a fuse for explosive shells, in combination, a body, frangible means closing the end thereof, punch means for severing the frangible means, the punch means and the frangible means being relatively movable, detonator means, means for iring the detonator means after the operation of the punch means, means normally preventing the operation of the detonator firing means and operable as a result of impact to allow of such operation and means normally preventing the operation of the punch means and operable as a result of impact to allow o1 such operation preliminarily to the operation ot' the firing means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence el two subscribingr Witnesses.

FREDERICK M Alt'llllN llAlJlC.

Witnesses:

H. AINsWoR'rH, C. ll. SLA'rEa.

il U 

